HAW RIVER – Alan Bounville was hiking U.S. 70 between Haw River and Mebane on Monday, a steady stream of cars and trucks forcing him as far off the narrow road as a pedestrian might manage.

Bounville watched the motorists whiz past at speeds of about 50 mph, then managed a chuckle.

“My other mission in life might be to push for pedestrian shoulders and bike paths,” he said.

Bounville, 36, is a resident of New York City who has been hiking since May 2011 in a push to end gender and sexual orientation discrimination. He started his march in Seattle and is now on the home stretch – planning to end his trek in front of the White House on Feb. 23.

Bounville will have walked 6,000 miles by the time he’s done.

“I was afraid when I started, but I just felt I had to go,” he said. “It’s opened me to a whole new world of living.”

Bounville is encouraging people he meets to fight for federal and social equality for all regardless of their sexual orientation. A more detailed explanation of his journey can be found at: www.intothelightwalk.com.

During his walk, Bounville has held candlelight vigils at specific sites where individuals have been murdered or taken their own lives due to – as Bounville puts it – “gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation discrimination.” Sometimes others join him in the vigils, and sometimes he does them alone.

Bounville speaks to church, youth and school groups as invitations are made. He said he’s opposed to recent votes in states like North Carolina and Florida that have put more restrictions on gay marriages.

“We shouldn’t be voting on people’s civil rights,” Bounville said.

He said reaction to his walk has varied. He’s been welcomed by some, scorned by others.

He said he’s encountered enough good people along the way to more than offset any bad experiences. Bounville relayed an experience from only a week ago when he was trudging along on a cold, wet day and a woman stopped to present him with both a cup of coffee and cup of hot chocolate she’d purchased.

“She said, ‘I don’t know which one you like, so I got you both,’” Bounville recalled the woman saying.

He said that experience and others like it boost his morale.

“It’s like cheering someone on during an athletic competition,” Bounville said.

Bounville pushes a converted three-wheeled stroller that carries two plastic tubs. Inside are all his necessities – a few changes of clothes and camping equipment included. Signs strapped to the tubs read: “Full equality now!” and “Into the light.”

Page 2 of 2 - Bounville said that while he was forced to camp along the road during the early weeks of his hike – and still does so on occasion – most of his nights are spent in the homes of hosts or in motels. Expenses are paid through donations, with 10 percent going to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund.

“It humbles me they’re trusting I’m going to do good with their money,” Bounville said of those who donate.

He planned to spend Monday night with a host family in Chapel Hill. Bounville said family members would pick him up near Mebane in early evening before driving him to their residence. This morning they’ll return him to the exact place he was picked up where he’ll resume his march.

“I walk every step,” Bounville said. “But I’m fine getting off the road for the night.”

Bounville is a theater educator and organizer by trade. He’s archiving his experiences and plans to turn them into a book as well as a theatrical production pertaining to social change.

Bounville said he travels anywhere from 10 to 30 miles a day. His weight, he said, has remained constant from the start, though his legs, he said, are substantially stronger after thousands of miles of walking.

“Our bodies are designed for this,” Bounville said of his hiking. “We’re designed to move.”